Saddle for velocipedes



(No Model.)

S. E. GILBERT.

SADDLE FOR VELOGIPEDES.

No. 415,291. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

witnesses N. Puma Pmw-mm n nu, Wanhmglan. IlC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMON ELDRED GILBERT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SADDLE FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,291, dated November 19, 1889.

Application filed August 28, 1889- Serial No. 322,227. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON ELDRED GIL- BERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

In the use of bicycles and tricycles it has been found desirable to provide the seat with as much elasticity as possible to relieve the motion of the machine in passing over the ground, and especially if the road be rough or uneven. As the support for the seat must be comparatively rigid to bear the weight of the rider, I have invented an air-cushion to be secured to the saddle, or, rather, an airsaddle which can be secured directly to the machine, and by means of which the weight of the rider is borne upon a cushion of air and the disagreeable effects of the jar of the machine are entirely avoided.

In adapting my air-cushions to the different machines I have found it best to mold a leather base into any desired form, which may be secured to the machine in place of the saddles now in use, and have the air-cushions secured to that.

The construction will be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan viewof myimproved air-saddle. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line as of. Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view.

The base 1 of the saddle is formed ofleather or other like material that can be softened and then molded into the desired shape, which it will retain when it again becomes dry or hard. Extending almost entirely around the machines will necessitate slight changes in the means of support at this point as well as in front. The front of the saddle, which I will call the horn, is almost semi-cylindrical in cross-section, and has a hook '7 secured near the end, the flange 2 being omitted at that point to permit of the hook engaging with the machine. The base is provided with a concavity S in the larger portion, which will assist in relieving the jar or inconvenience experienced from jolts or quick movements of the machine.

The cushion for the saddle is composed of two pieces 9 and 10, of any fine material that is impervious to air, as rubber-cloth, glazed leather, &c., and which are cut out in the same general shape as the base, but somewhat larger than it. These two pieces are then secured together about an inch from their edges by cement or glue, which will thus give a margin 11 all around the cushion, by means of which it can be attached to the rim of the leather base, as hereinbefore described. This construction permits of the air within the cushion extending all over the top of the saddle and entirely out to the outer edge of the saddle, and especially so upon the horn, when the cushion will afford support and relief for the person of the rider and prevent the tired feeling experienced in other saddles. By making the base of molded leather I produce a saddle that will have the rigidity to retain its actual shape and firmly support the aircushion under the heaviest load and yet be sufficiently yielding to prevent any portions of it, and especially the flanges along the horn, from bearing against the rider hard enough to chafe or injure him while riding.

If desired, the cushion and saddle may be made separable, so that the saddle can be used without the cushion and the cushion can be used upon other makes of saddle, although the best results will be obtained by securing the two together, substantially as described above. The air-cushion can be filled in the usual manner by the valve 12' at one end, and the amount of air may be varied to suit the rider or the circumstances; and instead of removing the cushion from the saddle, the same result may be obtained by opening the valve and forcing all the air out of the cushion. Whenever the cushion becomes worn or demoved and a new one substituted in its place;

and, as a mounted leather base can be manufactured almost if not entirely as cheaply as the ordinary saddles and has manifest advantages over them, as also over a metallic base, which would be too rigid and unyielding for comfort, it is evident that it is a decided improvement over those heretofore in use, and especially so when combined with my improved air-cushion.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. As anew article of manufacture, a molded leather saddle'for bicycles, &c., having aconcavity in its larger portion and an. air-cushion extending over the concavity and over the top of the seat, substantially as. described.

2. The combination, with a saddle for bi cycles, of an air-cushion secured thereto, said cushion being formed of two pieces joined together at a distance from their edges, whereby it is provided with a margin, substantially as described.

scribing witnesses.

SOLOMON ELDRED GILBERT. Witnesses:

HARRY O. KooHERsPE enR, HARRY KRAMER. 

